Can Nail Grooming be Considered Repulsive Behavior?

      Back in 2009 when I was perusing Global Traveler magazine online I found a blog entry by the vice president and associate publisher of the magazine, Alex Young, and it really made me think about public behavior of women when it comes to personal grooming.

The following is his blog entry in its entirety:

Pet Peeves

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008

I know we all have them. On a train ride home on the NJ transit, the woman

across from me decided to clip her nails for the world to see and hear. I was

peeved! Granted some may say I have become spoiled traveling in business and

first class, but I am happy to take public transportation to get me where I need

to go. I do it everyday, on the subways, trains etc.. but there are some

behaviors I believe are just not meant for public spaces. Essentially, anything

that should be designated for your bathroom, like nail clipping, should not be

done on a train!

I admit I was so repulsed that I ended up staring in her direction in what must

have seemed like a dirty look. She caught notice of me and gave me a look right

back! I couldn’t believe it. It’s not as if I went into her own home and told

her what to do and not do, but there are some personal items not meant for the

train!

Gum chewing, I have to say, is another. Ever sit next to someone who is chomping

on their gum so loudly you feel like you should be in a pasture with the cows?

Anyway, I consider these to be simple manners, or common courtesy, that do not

seem to catch on to everyone. But what is one to do? Is it the wrong thing to

ask the woman to stop clipping her nails, or tell someone to chew with their

mouth closed? Help me out here people, what would you do?

Here are some additional complaints on You Tube just in case you think it's an isolated incident: 
(Asian woman cutting her nails in public and on a train full of passengers !)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mBlUYEfjLw   

     I came across Alex's article again when I was looking for something else, recently. My initial reaction to this encounter which was not good for Alex, obviously, is still the same. I do think that it was absolutely repulsive behavior to exhibit in public. It’s right up there with picking your nose and spitting when you get right down to it. These acts are too personal to share with strangers and it is meant to be done privately or not at all.

     I’ll go a step further with this particular act. Nail clipping when done incorrectly is downright dangerous. Anyone who has ever been hit with a flying chunk of finger or toe nail clipping can attest to that so it goes all the way to being completely obnoxious and in my estimation should have gotten this woman removed from the train! This is actually antisocial behavior. What this woman did is no less dangerous than smoking on the train or vehemently arguing with someone.

     Being a professional manicurist/nail tech has helped me put this in perspective, knowing the rudiments of personal hand care. I can tell you what I would have done if put in the same situation. First, I would have told her what I do for a living and given her a card. I would have told her that there is a time and a place for everything and that this was not the place for her to clip her nails, put on lipstick or comb her hair. Professionals do these acts under sanitary conditions and take specific precautions when doing their work so everything remains sanitary. If being embarrassed by a licensed pro doesn’t stop someone from committing an antisocial act such as this, then they can only expect people to shun and avoid them when they do.

Enough said.

The Castle Lady

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, Part 3: A picture is worth a thousand words...

     The esthetics of nail art may be a matter of taste but because I have my own set of rules concerning the employment of art on fingernails I have decided to let photos explain. If you have read my previous two entries on the subject you'll know that rules can be broken or bent especially when the subject is art. Sometimes it's best to show, by comparison, what you're trying to say with mere words. Making hands beautiful is the main object and the primary reason why women want to have longer or better manicured nails and art on their nails should be another expression of that beauty. To me, the art is secondary to the overall look and the colors must coordinate your hands, nails and fashion together. 

     That is why I definitely like this set of nail art  

              but really do not care for this at all.    

     Panoramic murals are fascinating because it is an amazing achievement of artwork from nail to nail, as if it was just a long paneled canvas. Interestingly, this particular technique is executed much easier by placing strategic dots on each of the nails so that when you put the nails together the art corresponds exactly to the next panel- from nail to nail. Wearing complicated art will get people staring at your nails for all the wrong reasons, though, to say nothing of the  expense. Once you watch the process you'll understand why. Some of the art will be pre-painted on wrap sheets prior to application. It can save time but not necessarily be any less expensive. The other drawback is that it's a lot of money spent just to have someone look at your hands as if you're the creature from the black lagoon or equivalent.   It's just my opinion but I don't believe this art belongs outside of a nail art competition.

     

     I like this because the style on the nails fits the makeup, hair and outfit on this model. When she changes she'll have to choose the same colors she's wearing or have a quick removal of the art and reapply something else. When I began doing nail art back in the early 80s it wasn't popular even though I lived in Southern California. I was like a maverick in the salon where I worked. I got very good, quite quickly and many women asked for some paintings or designs over and over again, particularly for Halloween. I even developed my own art deco style which nearly all of my patrons opted for because I could combine colors that fit their entire wardrobe.

     Things changed when they started running professional nail art competitions because the drive to be different and over the top has always been a benchmark for serious professional beauty business competitions. Fashion designers followed suit and it showed in  70s, 80s and even styles in the 90s but to a lesser degree. My opinion about nail art remains the same in that I think art should enhance and not take over your look. Gaudy nail art should be outlawed in my opinion. I feel that way about all wearable or functional art. I've met and schmoozed with people who can paint faithful portraits of famous people and even favorite pets on fingernails! When it comes to nail art there's nothing like the real deal and exceptional talent. 

     Andy Warhol need not apply. Polish that is !  

 Happy Holidays !

The Castle Lady

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Part Two: Four Don'ts

There are four things wrong with the following nail art photo:

The first is that it breaks my esthetic rule of not having the same identical design on each nail.

The color is atrocious.

Avoid green on nails for the same reason you shouldn't mix the colors orange and purple.

Duckbill-shaped nails will always be out the same way clogs were always ugly.

They only belong where they appear in nature.

They are a sure signature of a total amateur.

Drug czars on nails are the political equivalent of nails on a chalkboard.

Don't do it. Ever.

Sage advice from

The Castle Lady

Nail Art- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

     Perhaps it's best left to the eyes of the beholder and that is why I'm taking the time to really dig into this subject when it comes to nail technology. Anyone who has ever delved into the world of art in a basic and general way can tell you that just about anything goes since the avant garde genre came to the fore. Art covers a lot of mediums today and artistry in many varied fields is important and improves our lives for the most part. I'm going to put aside everything that art touches in this instance and concentrate solely on the aesthetics of beautiful nails, hands and feet. I entered the field of nail technology many years ago for that reason alone and not particularly to prove to anyone that I'm an artist but rather specifically a nail artist.



      Would you go to a plastic surgeon to get a tattoo? Would you ask a prosthetic artist to make you an odd-shaped leg or hand ? If your answer is yes would you dare to ask yourself why you're asking for such a thing ? A good part of the nails and nail art I see people wearing today is not particularly pretty and some of the actual nails look dangerous with no glamour attached to the look at all. It's quite puzzling to me because I always strove to make any artificial product I applied to nails to look not only beautiful but as natural as possible. It became and still is my trademark.

     I probably shouldn't be surprised that this has happened and that some people don't think anything of this disheartening trend. I watched it happen to the hairdressing profession years ago and I remember my mother's reaction to all of it. She was an NHCA member throughout most of her career as a professional hairstylist. She did everything. Color, blonding and highlighting, cuts for men, women and children, perms, shampoo sets, styling for weddings, braiding and elaborate hair styles. I remember her doing marcel type waves early in her career without an iron which she later used to try her hand at working with black hair styling. She found that very difficult and time consuming but also very interesting. I'm convinced that there wasn't anything she couldn't do. I also know that there were a lot of things she wouldn't do because it would harm someone's hair. She didn't like using irons and refrained from using them. She was very particular about the products she used and absolutely abhorred the crazy styling during the 70s and 80s. She didn't like the spiky styling that has now lasted two decades.

     I'm certain her reasons were the same as mine are now about a good portion of the nail art out there. I'm also a little upset about how artificial nails are being styled as well but we'll cover that subject at another time. The best way for me to tell you what the true essence of nail art should be, will be to just illustrate.

I do have a few hard and fast rules that I stick to adherently. The first one is that I do not put a different color base on each nail.

The second is that I refrain from doing the same design on each nail.

The third is that I only decorate a few nails on a single customer if I do freehand nail art such as those below. I seldom, if ever, decorate all ten digits.

My fourth and last is that I keep a consistency in the designs for unity by either using the same colors- even if I mix the colors- or the same geometric shapes or similar designs which compliment each other. Color and design consistency is usually best.

     The biggest mistake I see on people's nails is having the same exact airbrushed design on all ten nails. That is the wrong type of consistency. The best nail artists use the same colors in each unique design- even if they put art on every single nail. The design or picture should have complimentary colors- no purple and orange or yellow and brown dots, for example- unless you're using acrylic paints and mixing colors to make shades like I do for freehand art. Elementary school art belongs on elementary school kids. Just don't do it, even if you teach kindergarten. Make it a habit to search out pictures and photos that you would like your nail artist to put on your nails. She might surprise you with her talent. If you get a stressed out look go find someone who is as adventurous as you are, now that you know what to look for in a nail technician.

     Airbrushing is most likely the classiest way to make truly aesthetic art on nails. The photo below will give you some idea of what can be achieved. In this case color coordinated designs are so much prettier. Even putting the same design on each nail works because you can keep blending the lines with mixes and the possibilities are endless clear into three, four or five dimensional designs. That all comes with practice. Everyone of these designs were made with templates I cut out myself in an airbrush seminar with the Colormist people many years ago.

     On the other hand, if a professional just uses airbrushing to paint over stencils you're most likely going to get the same design on each nail. You'll get a lot of stares, all right, but for all the wrong reasons. Many nail artists haven't taken the time for or received any proper education in using an airbrush unit and that is why they do the stencils. If you have to clean up your own cuticles after getting these designs then the tech didn't receive any formal instruction in using an airbrush machine for nails at all. You might want to check to see if she has a professional state license in cosmetology or manicuring. If you are unsure how to find out, send me a quick e-mail and I'll get in touch with you on how to proceed even if you live in another state.

     One more aspect to consider is my pet peeve. When do you know if your nail art is just over the top ? My rule of thumb- if you'll pardon the quip! - is that if you really can't discern an actual pattern, consistency or attractiveness to what you have on your hands it may be time to get out the polish remover. Just remember that having beautiful nails is to be an accessory to your overall fashion statement or look. Even a fashionista will tell you that and you won't see one looking as if someone grabbed her and colored over the lines. In other words, if it seems garish or outrageous then it is because it's affecting the way you feel about your hands.  

Believe it...

The Castle Lady